Although Beiguan Town has high city walls and strong defenses, the strength of the town’s military and civilians, including himself, is still somewhat lacking. If they were to encounter an Exotic Beast with the formidable impact of the Red Cloud Gold Armored Elephant again, once the city gate is broken, the entire town’s people would face disaster. Having this Red Cloud Gold Armored Elephant makes the defense of the town much easier.

A flash of light, and the Heaven and Earth Contract takes effect. The last Red Cloud Gold Armored Elephant becomes the City Lord’s mount.

The soldiers and civilians on the city wall cheer loudly once more, knowing that with this Red Cloud Gold Armored Elephant, Beiguan Town is more impregnable than ever, ensuring the safety of their own lives and those of their families. Their eyes, as they look at Han Yan, are full of gratitude and respect.

Having found a Sword Master for several Red Cloud Gold Armored Elephants, Han Yan turns her gaze back to the other Exotic Beasts.

The situation here is clearly different from last time at Fang Town. The strongest Red Cloud Gold Armored Elephants have already submitted and voluntarily offered the Master and Slave Contract, but the other Exotic Beasts have not followed suit.

This is understandable; given the powerful strength and defense of the Red Cloud Golden Armored Beast, its nature is unusually gentle, making it an outlier among Exotic Beasts. The other Exotic Beasts are not so easily tamed.

However, Han Yan is not anxious. Under the ancient heavenly might of the Aolai Divine Beast, there’s no fear that these creatures won’t submit; it’s just a matter of time.

"In the name of Aolai, I command all beasts under heaven; those who follow me will thrive, those who oppose me will perish!" Han Yan recites the Divine Beast Contract again.

Behind her, almost everyone shows a look of anticipation.

Though the remaining Exotic Beasts vary in strength, none compares to the Red Cloud Gold Armored Elephant, their power is not far behind. As long as one could have a Sword Pet of similar strength, it is considered a blessing from a past life.

Over five hundred people came to Lu’an City this time. Imagine if each had a Sword Pet of equal strength, what a formidable presence that would be. Even if those from Dan Tai Xuan’s group saw them, they’d be green with envy.

Of course, this is also Han Yan’s idea, though not for rivalry with Dan Tai Xuan, but to avoid disappointing those like her grandfather, and the venerable patriarchs like He Qingzong and Patriarch Zhang.

If she’s led them away from the Capital, then she must bring them back alive, even if she has to exhaust herself completely.

Repeatedly reciting the Divine Beast Contract, Han Yan feels a slight pain in her Divine Sea. Only then does she realize that as the Divine Beast Memory gradually awakens, the effectiveness of the Divine Beast Contract increases, but the toll on her Divine Sense has also multiplied, a fact she hadn’t noticed last time at Fang Town.

Nevertheless, under the Divine Beast’s heavenly might, more than a dozen Exotic Beasts, comparable to Sixth and Seventh-level Sword Masters, chose to submit.

"Decide amongst yourselves who wants these Exotic Beasts," Han Yan tells the noble family’s sons behind her.

In fact, when she recited the Divine Beast Contract again, the noble family members had already reached a consensus. The young elites from the He Family, Yan Family, Zhang Family, and several subordinate families stepped forward, along with Mu Family’s Mu Chengxuan and Mu Renda.

Earlier, to win people’s hearts, Han Yan gave He Qingwei and Yan Yi a place of honor, saving them plenty of face, but skipped over her own family members, which made both He Qingzong and Yan Yi extremely grateful, yet secretly ashamed. As they negotiated, they intentionally left several spots for the Mu Family.

Of course, since these Exotic Beasts were tamed by Han Yan, even giving them all to Mu Family’s disciples would be unquestioned; their generosity was merely a show of magnanimity at others’ expense.

Soon, the various noble family’s sons chose their preferred Sword Pets, perhaps seeking the last chance to compete for the family head position, He Qingzong furiously courted He Qingwei, accompanying him in selecting a Fire-eyed Clouded Leopard comparable to a Sixth-level Sword Master.

Though not as powerful as the previous Red Cloud Gold Armored Elephants, these Exotic Beasts are famously fierce, not as effective in city sieges but equally lethal in battles.

The young ones with Sword Pets are naturally joyous, repeatedly thanking Han Yan. Because the young members of the He Family and Yan Family, along with a few subordinate families, were initially coerced by He Qingwei and Yan Yu to ally with Han Yan, these people were somewhat reluctant at first. But by now, they’ve fully submitted.

Had they known earlier that following Han Yan would bring such great benefits, even without He Qingwei and Yan Yu’s pressure, they would have all convinced their young masters to ally with Han Yan.

Among all, only Mu Chengqi wears a bitter expression.

With his age and talent, he stands out among the branch family’s young masters, and even in the Zong Family, he’s only marginally behind the likes of recognized geniuses like Han Yan and Chengxuan, stronger than most others. Had he set aside his jealousy earlier and proactively befriended Han Yan, she would have favored him.

Unfortunately, it’s too late to say anything now. Watching the high-spirited Renda and other branch family masters, Mu Chengqi regrets to the point of wanting to run into walls.

"Luckily, there are still Exotic Beasts that haven’t submitted; their strength isn’t weak. There’s still the next batch," Mu Chengqi can only comfort himself this way.

This time, taming the Exotic Beasts is even more challenging than it was at Fang Town. As Chengxuan and others pick their Sword Pets, Han Yan swallows a few Spirit Pills to restore her spirit and continues reciting the Divine Beast Contract.

"Roar..." Just then, a beast’s roar echoed.

A shadow of an Exotic Beast comes galloping from afar, appearing dark red in the night, like a burning ember drifting over.

"Jiuyou Netherworld Beast!" Others might not know the origin of this Exotic Beast, but Han Yan senses the aura distinct from any Exotic Beast on the Holy Court Continent, her heart tightens.

Very soon, the Netherworld Beast stands outside the city, far away at the rear of a group of Exotic Beasts. Its dark red flame flickers ominously in the night, creating an eerie feeling, only those exceptionally clear eyes, like two bonfires burning in the distance, are filled with a sense of slaughter and madness that oppresses one’s soul.

With the Netherworld Beast’s roar, a different overwhelming aura blankets the area. Exotic Beasts that were about to submit show confusion, then bloodlust and madness rise again in their eyes, issuing low growls.

"Not good!" Han Yan did not expect the Netherworld Beast’s pressure could rival the ancient heavenly might of the Aolai Divine Beast, her heart is shocked.

"In the name of Aolai, I command all beasts under heaven; those who follow me will thrive, those who oppose me will perish!" Han Yan activates the Divine Martial Refining Soul Technique, focusing her Divine Sense intensely, reciting the Divine Beast Contract again.

"Roar..." the Netherworld Beast also roars skyward.

One person, one beast, each exerting their full strength, two different pressures envelop the area, causing all Exotic Beasts to prostrate, their eyes alternating between clarity and confusion, feeling no trace of resistance. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

The two pressures collide forcefully, each wave stronger than the last. Following another angry roar from the Netherworld Beast, Han Yan’s chest feels as if struck by a giant stone, nearly causing her to spit blood, while the Netherworld Beast seems equally wounded, its blood-red eyes dimming, retreating several steps.

Han Yan and the Netherworld Beast face each other from afar, neither daring to recklessly unleash pressure again.